Baseball Game Preview: Junction City Dragons vs. Woodlawn Bears

Dragons

Runs

03/20/25 vs Smackover	3
03/18/25 vs Ouachita	7
03/17/25 @ Smackover	3
03/14/25 vs Claiborne Academy	14
03/13/25 @ Taylor	2
+ 3 more games

Junction City is 2-8 against Woodlawn since May of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Junction City Dragons will square off against the Woodlawn Bears at 5:00 p.m. Junction City is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.

Junction City is headed into Friday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Thursday. They lost 9-3 to Smackover.

Cade Hightower was cooking despite his team's loss, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with one stolen base and two RBI.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Woodlawn). They never let Magnet Cove get on the board and left with a 15-0 win on Thursday. The victory continues a trend for the Bears in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won eight in a row.

Peyton Wells was a standout: he scored three runs while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. That's the most runs he has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Hollis Holderfield, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.

Woodlawn always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .629. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Woodlawn pushed their record up to 8-2 with the win, which was their 18th straight at home dating back to last season. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 8.2 runs. As for Junction City, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-5.

Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Junction City has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .478. However, it's not like Woodlawn struggles in that department as they've averaged .479. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Junction City suffered a grim 16-1 defeat to Woodlawn in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can Junction City avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.